Election Day 2012

iReporter Jarrell Simms, who has been working at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta for a decade, snapped a panoramic photo of an election watch party from the roof of the bar at 10 p.m. ET. “Inside it's completely packed so we opened up the back parking lot. I got up on the roof to take a photo,” he said.http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-877210

by Steve Krakauer, CNN11/7/2012 3:34:38 AM

Ok - now what do you think? We're just 25 minutes away from option #1.

CNN Chief White House Correspondent Jessica Yellin reports that Vice President Joe Biden is having dinner at his hotel with his family and watching results from tonight's election come in, according to a senior administration aide. The aide said the mood is "nervous and hopeful," and that the VP and his team will meet up with the president later in the evening.

We were just delivered our second meal. This control room is beginning to feel like a long haul flight.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN11/7/2012 3:39:05 AM

President Barack Obama's motorcade has departed his home, according to reporters traveling with the president, though they do not yet know the destination. Obama and a number of family members were to watch election returns at home before heading to his campaign's election night event, staffers told reporters earlier on Tuesday.

Obama is now at the Fairmont Chicago, where he is expected to remain until a winner is projected

by Gregory Wallace, CNN11/7/2012 3:51:10 AM

An emotional Richard Mourdock, the Republican Senate candidate in Indiana who landed in hot water last month for comments he made about pregnancy and rape, said in his concession speech Tuesday that he was "attacked for standing for my principles" and for his position on abortion.

"I will look back knowing I was attacked for standing on my principles, for coming into this public process with the idea that you ought to put forward something to offer the public so that they can make a clear choice," the Indiana state treasurer said in a speech after CNN and other media outlets projected the race would be won by Democratic Rep. Joe Donnelly.

"Though I was attacked for it as well, make no mistake: I stand that all life is precious in the eyes of God," he continued.

Mourdock thanked his supporters and wished Donnelly "well, and certainly I congratulate him."

Shortly after multiple networks projected that Republicans would retain control of the House, Speaker John Boehner took to the stage with a message that looked ahead to the battle over the fiscal cliff - the GOP isn't budging on taxes.

"With this vote, the American people have also made clear that there is no mandate for raising tax rates," Boehner told supporters at the Ronald Reagan building in Washington.

CNN reported Tuesday night that it was mathematically impossible for the GOP to win back control of the Senate, but the outcome of the presidential race remained unclear.

Congress returns next week for the lame duck session. It faces major decisions about how it will head off the series of automatic spending cuts that are set to go into effect at the beginning of next year, and the Bush era tax cuts that are due to expire at the end of December.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN11/7/2012 3:54:26 AM

In conceding his bid for re-election, Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts said moments ago in Boston that "you have no place in politics unless you accept the judgement of people. And if you run for office you have to be able to take it either way, winning or losing. I accepted the decision of the voters and I have already offered my sincerest congratulations to senator-elect Warren."

To boos from his supporters, Brown says, "No, she won it fair and square, folks."

The race between Brown and Elizabeth Warren was one of the most expensive in the country this year.

by Steve Krakauer, CNN11/7/2012 3:55:25 AM

"Plenty of tension" in the candidate's HQs, says Wolf Blitzer.

by Steve Krakauer, CNN11/7/2012 3:55:33 AM

Alex Castellanos doesn't sound confident about his candidate of choice.

The CNN projection that Minnesota will go to Obama comes after the state gained renewed attention in the final days of the election. Polls showed the contest tightening between Obama and Romney, and top surrogates headed there from both campaigns to try and eke out a win.

Former President Bill Clinton made stops in Minneapolis and Duluth to stump on Obama's behalf, and Paul Ryan went there to stump for Romney. Joe Biden made an appearance last week in Superior, Wisconsin – just over the bridge from Duluth.

Those appearances, paired with small ad buys by the Obama and Romney campaigns in Minnesota, suggested a closer race in a state that turned out overwhelmingly for then-Illinois Sen. Obama in 2008. Obama took 54% of the vote in Minnesota four years ago, compared to 44% that went to Arizona Sen. John McCain.

The last Republican presidential candidate to win Minnesota was Richard Nixon in 1972. The state carries a prize of ten electoral votes.